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Camden Railway Heritage Trust

Railway Heritage

Camden has an industrial heritage rich in features associated with the 19th century and the arrival of the canal and railway. The Regent's Canal, which opened as far as Hampstead Road Lock in 1816, and the London & Birmingham Railway - the first main line into London - which opened in 1837, created a major goods interchange at Camden. Industries and workshops migrated to the area and expanded, turning Camden into an important industrial centre.

Continuous development of railways in the borough since the 1830s has left a greater range of significant railway heritage than any other area of London. The redevelopment of St Pancras and Kings Cross stations is restoring pride in our railway heritage, and pressures to resurrect the Euston Arch could recreate an iconic symbol of the Victorian railway.

Area of interest

Key map(Peter Darley)

The focus of our interest is the area shown on the map, which covers the former Camden Goods Depot and the main line railway as far as Primrose Hill Tunnel East Portals. It contains four Grade II* listed structures - the Roundhouse, Primrose Hill Tunnel East Portals, the Stationary Winding Engine Vaults and the Horse Hospital - and a wealth of Grade II listed structures, including:

four stables ranges

the Interchange Warehouse, the vaults below its forecourt and the Eastern Horse Tunnel

the Roving Bridge and towpath bridge over the Interchange Basin

Hampstead Road Lock, the Lockkeeper's Cottage and the road bridge over the canal

the Rotunda former piano factory

the Engineer public house

Primrose Hill School and its railings and walls

St Mary the Virgin church.

There is much more that merits listing.

The Trust

Camden Railway Heritage Trust (CRHT) is a charity promoting, for public benefit, the preservation and restoration of the railway and associated heritage, access to the heritage and the education of the public in the broad appreciation of the social and industrial history of the area.

Commercial development in the area can use the heritage to attract visitors and enhance the life of people who live and work in Camden. But it also threatens the heritage and can harm or destroy the features that make this area so interesting. The role of the Trust is to encourage people to understand the heritage and appreciate its significance. This website takes a step in this direction.

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If you are interested in helping to preserve the remarkable heritage in this area, then join our mailing list and sign up to receive our newsletter. If you wish to help the work of the Trust, or if you can share with us any additional information about the railway, canal and industrial heritage of the area, contact the secretary.